Air-inlet-valve mechanism for pneumatic tools



. M. J. BURKEL. AIR INLET VALVE MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATIC TOOLS. APPLIfIATION-FILED JULY 10.1918.

L417, 1 36., Patented May 23, 1922.

M THEW a; EUR-K1313; "on an rtorte, mama;

ararNLE'r-vanvn resonant Ltd m as i To all who la it may comer n:

a citizen or the United States, and'a resident proved a jeet and thushe siniultaneonsly Opened to of Aurora, in the eountyot Kaneand Eitate 0Flllinois, have invented. Certain new. and useful linprovenients in :Air-lnlet-Valve hlleehanism ior Pneinnatie Tools; and I do hereby declarethatthe following is a full,

clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reten. ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters oi rjeterenee marked tl1GTGOl1,Wl1lClI tlorin a part otthis specification. This invention rel ates toiinitn'oveinents in pneumatic tools and more]iai.'ti.cularly to the air inlet valve mechanismthereof, and. consists of the matters hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. a 1 a f One of the objects o the present inven tion to 1 "ovide in conneetion with an i1n- V inlet valve'tor admitting air to the, tool barrel, a norm ally closed throttle valve, which. may be adjusted to regulate the amount oil. air flowing to the inlet valve so thatthe movement otthe operatingnieniher otthe tool iua v be determined and peer tively controlled for either light or heavy work. l jinothenohject of the inventionis to so arli'ange and locatethe actuating meinhers'ot the normally closed air"inlet and throttle valve with reference to each other, that in tase the tool accidentally ill [138 from "the operators hands while using? the same, it will be impossible for both of saidztctua ti 11;; inenihers to engage or catch upon smneolr start the tool into operation.

it furtherohjeetol the invention istoso construct (the tool handle, that the air pas sae'eway theijieinnlayheeasily drilled. To

this end, said passageway is arranggedso that it may be conveniently enlarged or bored out at points throughout its length, for thereception of hoththe air Inlet valve mechanism and the tlirottle valve meel anisn associated therewith. a a

These objects as well as others, together with the many advantages o'l 'niy invention will more fully appear asfll H oeeed With my specification. H

In the acroinpanying drawings i Figure 1 illustrates a central, longitiu dinal, sectional view through a pneiflinjatic tool handle, embodying my invention.

l Specification of Letters Patent.

,iiivk-znltion illustrated in the drawin sir we Hammer; roots.

"Figure 2 represents a detail, horizontal section through a part of the tool handle,

the planeotthe section being iinlicated by "the llllfi 2--2 of Figure 1.

igure 3 representsa detail view partly in elevation and partly insectien, the plane of the section heingindicated by the line 3-30f Figure 1.

h gure t represents a view in s de elevm tion' of a hiishiug forming a pal-tot a valve mechanism embodying my inveiition.

Figure 5 represents atop plan view of said bushing. v Figure 6 represents a transverse, sectional view through said bushing, the plane of? the sectionheing indicated by the line (5 6 oi Figure 4:.

lte'l'erring now to that embodiment elf my :-1U

indieates as a whole, the head oi a piieinnatie tool. Saidhemlincludes an annular flange ll adapted toreceive theinner end ot the tool. harrel or body, and ahantile extension 12 ivhich. as'shown in this instance, provides what is known as an open gri f handle. The handle extension. ispreiterahly tlaln'izat'ed integrally with the head and is in the fOlnl Of a prolongation of one end of a trans versely extendingbossdS onthe endwall let oi said head.

An air inlet passageway 15 is provided in 1 said handle extension. Said passageway terminates in anenlal'ged here 15 in the transverse boss 13 ot the end wallle'l, undin said end wall, coaxial with the annular llangre 'l], an inlet port 16 for the ad1nission ol? the air into the usual operating valve 'niiechzniisni oi the tool barrel (not shown).

In the here 15, which extends transversely otl'ithe longritudinal of the tool barrel, is the valwhushing 1704" an air inlet or adinission valve, indicated;as awholeat l8. llhislmshirip; is in the c )rm of a tubular sleevewhieh closed at its inner end and here, until the iinier end of said sleeveengages a shoulder 15" iorniedat the junction ofthepassageway l5 and enlarged bore 15. Sand sleeve is heldae'anist displacement by tip-setting the outer end oi the boss 13 upon a the outer end of thelnishing, said outer end snugly Within'thehore 15' and is driven intopljace thereinfroln the outer end OfSiUCl.

which, when the bushing is within the bore is spaced outwardly from the inlet port 16 in the end wall 14-, and in the opposite sides of said bushing are longitudinal grooves 21. which begin at the closed inner end of said bushing and converge towards each other at their outer ends to merge into the annular groove 20 at a point diametrically opposite the inlet port 16, in the head end Wall 14.

In said busuing 17 are inner and outer bores and respectively, of difiierent diameters, at the junction of which is formed a tapered valve seat 24:. A transverse port connects the inner, smaller bore with the inlet port 16 in thecnd wall 1.4L ot the head while ainiular spaced ort. 26 connect the outer, lar er bore all with the annular groove 20.

80 indicates piston valve plug arranged in the bores 22 and 28 of the bushing, which adapted to control the admission of air under pressure through said bushing to the inlet port 16 in tl head end wall 1%. This piston valve plug includes a body 31 ar ranged in the larger bore 23, a head 32 arranged in the smaller bore 522 and a neck 33 of still smaller diameter which connects said body and head together. The body is tapered at its inner end as at 34 to normally engage upon the valve seat 24 in the bushing and in the outer end of said valve body is formed a recess 35 which is normally in comniunicationwith the annular ports 26 in the bushing 1'7, by smaller annular ports 36. A coiled expansion spring 8? interposed hetween the plug 19 in the outer end of the bushing and the outer end of the valve body 31, normally holds the tapered part 34- of said valve body in engagement upon the valve seat 2%. p

The head 32 oi the valve is operatively engaged by a trigger 3 8 that tulcruined to swing in the plane 01 the handle. Said trigger is tulcrun'ied between spaced ears 39 made integral with the crook of the handle 12 and has an arm 38 which extends through aligned slots 13 and 17 formed re spectively in the boss 18 and busl'iing 17. to engage, the head ol said valve and has an operating arm 38" which is bent to conform to the shape oi the crook of the handle so that it will normally be spaced from the inside of the crook, the space being sntlicient so that when the handle is gripped and the operating arm 38 of the trigger is actuated by the lingers handle 15, there will be enough movement of the trigger to actuate the valve plug 30. That part of the air passageway 15 evtending parallel to the axis ol the annular flange 11, is bored out as at 15 to receive a tubular sleeve-4O which has a port 1-0 that communicates with an obliquely arranged part 15 of the air passageway 15 in the outer end oi the handle proi ier. The inner end of the hand grasping the oi said sleeve connnunicatcs with that part of said air passageway Iii that leads into the bore l5" in the boss id. The said sleeve hl has a driving lit in said bore and the handle has a boss ill to provide for a part of said bore said sleeve having a threaded outer end 41 which extends outwardly beyond the end of said boss 10".

In the sleeve is provided :1. reciprovable tubular valve 4-2 which has a port all adapted to be brought into register with the port it) in said sleeve 10 in a manner soon to appear. An expansion coiled spriiur tlarranged be tween a shoulder in said air passa geway and the inner end ol tl e tubu ar valve holds said valve in its outermost position wherein the ports & and 4. 3 are out ol' 1 Idol". To the outer end of the valve 1.: secured a stern {l5 that has a button or head it which is adapted to be actuated hy the thun'ih o! the operator 1n:1iiipulatiug the tool. This stein 4-5 passes through a cap 1;? that is rotatively engaged upon the thrcaulcd outer end 4:1 oi the lnlshingh! and the hilll has flattened sides so that while said stain is l'rce to move endwise through said cap, said stun: and valve will rotate with the cap when rotative movement s inipartei to said cap. ti /aid cap has teeth l8 in its poi iphcry Which are engaged by a s nking prcsranl pawl l1) located in a suitable recess in the handle. The operation is as; follows:--.lssu1ni:u:j that the ai: passageway 15 is conniwted with a suitable supplv oi air under pres ure and he inlet valve and throttle valve arc Mos-ed,

as hey normally are under the action ol the associated valve springs; the ruicrator grasps the handle 12 'ith the iorciingors rcadv to manipulate the trigger. and with (he thiunh ready to engage the button it; to press the valve stem inwardly.

l i hen ready. the operator actualon the valve stem 4-5 and the trigger 218, P1 sure on the valve stem inwardlv as tar as it w ll go, brings the port all} in the \alviit! into register with the port 4' in the hushiiur 1-0 and by manipulating the trigger lf the valve plug 30 of the air inlet valve in the bore 15 depressed so an to rem vithe tapered part Il-il oi the said valve plug}; tron! the valve seat 24- in the bushing 17.

Air under pressure will then pass through the registering ports in the throttle valve towards the bushing 17, to pass down the channels or groves 21 in the sides of said bushing, to the annular groove 20.. From the groove 20., the air will pass into the suudlnr bore 92 of. said bushing- 17. through the ports 25 and 16 to the operating valve mechani m in the tool barrel or body. No air can leak out of the bore through the slots 1? and lit because the head 32 oi the valve plun' fits the bore 22 as to present a barrier to smll leakage.

Should the operator let go cl either the 'llll l il samextinie, the same shut-olij' of air to the a y iaiaise triggerbr stem-,noair could pass through the port ldbecause'the valve associated with I either the trigger or stem would elose automatically mider the action of its associated spring. Should the operator let-pooi' both the trip, erEtl v and stem utton 416. at the tool would occur. It only the stem 45 be imovedinwardly, airiwould pass through i 26 and 3 6 into the recess so that thc air to the annular groove 20, through the ports underpressure would then be back otthe valveplug and would assist the: spring 1 :37 in holdmg the SillCl pliugfid in stvghtfseat- 111gengagementupontheseat 24k in the bushing 17. Thus, no air would enter to the valvemechanism in the tool, barrel or bodv;

This structure is advantageous as a sa' ,ty feature, because when the operator is at work under such conditions that it would i be impossible to let go the triggerto stop the tool without dropping the tool, to the danger of those working at a distance below area of the passage through which the air must, pass from the passageway 15 to the bore 15, when the tubular valve member 4L2 has been moved inwardly until said ports 43 and register. Manifestly the supply of air to the valve mechanism in the tool may be governed so that the movementof the operating member of the tool. may be predetermined and positively controlled l'or either light or heavy work. The tubular valve member is held in the desired angular ad j listed position into which it has been moved by rotation of the cap 4-7 upon the threads ll at the outer end of the bushing l0, by the spring pressed pawl 4:9 before mentioned.

My improved valve construction possesses many advantages. The throttle valve may be adjusted to vary and govern the amount of air to be admitted to the tool barrel and after this adjustment has been made for either light or heavy work, the operator may open both valves to the limit, thus doing away with the necessity for holding the inlet valve only partly open for light work, as is now the usual practice, when it is de sired to do light work with pneumatic tools now used, such holding of the inlet valve in partly open position being particularly tiresome for the operator, and unreliable.

Again, ii the tool is leit lying about the work operated uponpthere is no danger of the tool being accidentally started into operation, with resulting injury and damage, because both the throttle valve and inlet valve have to be openedat the same time and such accidental,openingott the valves is impossible on account or the arrangement an d structure 1 of the p arts before mentioned.

Thetool head isso designed as to becapable' of being" made by the drop forge method,

thus insuring strength), and is shaped in a nianner permitting olhready drilling and boring of the air passageways.

VVhilein describing my inventioml have set forth the same as used in connection witlran open grip handle, but it is apparent that the same maybe as readily used in connection with a closed grip handle, and, it is apparentthat other changes in the arrangement and construction "of parts in av be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention: 1."In-comliiination with the handle of a pneumatic tool, an air inlet valve, a trigger onsaid handle for actuating said air inlet valve, anormally closed, combined adjust ablethrottle ai'idsafety valve for controlling the l'low oi air'to said inlet valve, and a dBPl'BSSllJlBISlJQHl for opening sald throttle valve, said depressible stem being arr-ennui atfaright ai'igle to the inletvalve and in convenient relation to said trigger andbeing adapted to beactuatedby the thumb of the hand graspingjthe handle.

2. :In combinationwwith an open grip hair die for pneumatic tools having anairpas sageway therethrough, an air inlet valve for controlling the How of air from said passageway to the tool, a trigger in the crool:

of said handle tlor actuating said air inlet valve, a self-closing combined throttle and safety valve in said air pzu'ssa; 2;eway, said throttle being capable oi being adjusted to control the amount oi air to said air inlet valve, and a jtliunibactuated. stem located on the outside ol said handle in convenient gripping relation to said trigger for opening said throttle valve, said stein also being capable of being rotated to determine the amount oi? air to pass through said throttle valve when the same is open.

3. In combination with the handle of a pneumatic tool, an air inlet valve, a trigger on said handle for actuating said air inlet valve, a combined self-closing throttle and safety valve for controlling the flow of air to said inlet valve, a stem connected to said valve and adapted to be depressed inwardly to its fullest extent, to open said throttle, said throttle being capable of a retative adjusting movement to control the flow of air through said passageway withoutinterfering with the toll depressing in wardly oi said stem.

4. A device of the hind described, comprising a tubular head having an end wall, said end wall having a boss extending transversely thereof, and an extension prolonged beyond said head to form a erooked handle, said handle having a longitudinal passageway for the pneumatic fluid and said boss having a longitudinal bore which meets said passageway, a valve bushing in said bore, said valve bushing and boss having registering slots adjacent to the crook of the handle, means providing a tapered valve seat in said bushing, a valve plug reciproeable in said bushing and normally seating against said tapered valve seat, a trigger fulcrumed in the crook of said handle and having an arm extending through said registering slots in said'boss and in said bushing, and engaging said valve plug to open the same, and a spring in said bushing and en= gaging said valve plug to hold said valve.

plug to its seat, there being registering ports in said bushing and said head for the passage of: air from the interior of said bushing.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a head having an end wall, said end wall having an extension prolonged beyond said head to form a crooked handle, said handle having a longitudinal passageway for the pneumatic fluid, a tubular bushing in said air passageway arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tool, said bushing having an opening in its side which commu nieates with said air passageway, a spring actuated, reeiproealole valve plug in said bushing, said valve plug having a port adapted to register with the hole in mid bushing, and a stem lived to said vahe plus);

and extemling without the handle l'or depressing said valve plug to bring its part into register with the port in said hushing, and "for rotating said plug to change the angular relation of the lmshing opening and plug port.

6. A device of the kind described, (01H- prising a head having an end wall said end wall having an extension prolonged heyond said head to form a crooliied handle, said handle having a longitudinal passage-any for the pneumatic fluid. a tuhular hashing in said air passagewa arranged parallel with the horizontal :i. :is of the tool, said bushing having an opening in its side whieh eommunical'es with said air passageway, a spring actuated recipri'icahle valve plug: in said bushing, means operable from outside the casing to rotate said va ve plug to change the llll filllell' .i'elzdieii oi" the sleeve port and said ah'e pert. meme; ler lidldinsr and valve plug in tl e desired :iiljuded pd sltien and a depresslhle eteni tired to said valve plug and extending without the lllllldle for bringing said ports into re 'istrriny position.

In testimony that I clann the 'l'oz'egronnr as my invention, 1 alli); niy s ,ymi,li|re Ill the presence of two ndtnesses, this 5th day of June A. D. 1918.

h [AITHFHV (l. lillllli I6 I lVitnesses JOHN F. CAAS, B. DAHENSGHLAGER.

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